Karl Denver
Encyclopedia
Karl Denver was a Scottish
singer, who, with his trio
had a series of UK
hit single
s in the early 1960s. Most famous of these was a 1961 version
of "Wimoweh", which showed off Denver's falsetto
yodelling register. He reached the Top 20 with his first five yodel-based singles
.
, Glasgow
and was well travelled by the time he took up singing, having had a previous career in the British Merchant Navy. He also had a country music
influence, having lived in Nashville
, Tennessee
for a short time before being deported from there as an illegal immigrant in 1959. In the US
, he adopted the new name that he retained for the remainder of his singing career.
In the early 1960s he formed a trio which included Kevin Neil (born 25 July 1931, Manchester
, Lancashire
; died 13 March 2010, Blackley, Manchester) and Gerry Cottrell (born Gerard Cottrell, 18 December 1933, Manchester, Lancashire; died 24 November 2006, at Trafford General Hospital, Urmston
, Manchester).
Denver's song
, "Never Goodbye", was an entry in A Song for Europe in 1962
.
After the mid 1960s, Denver worked mainly on the cabaret
circuit. However in 1989 he enjoyed a brief raise in profile after guesting on Madchester
band
, the Happy Mondays
' single
, "Lazyitis (One-Armed Boxer)", on Factory Records
(FAC 222). Denver also appeared in The Happy Mondays' video
for the song
, although he contracted pneumonia
whilst filming the video. Following this collaboration Factory released two further Denver recordings
, "Wimoweh '89" (FAC 228) and "Indambinigi" (FAC 278; credited to Karl Denver and Steve Lima).
In 1993 he released his final album, Just Loving You, aimed at the country music market. In mid 1998, Denver began recording a new album, but died before full recording of the album was completed. The finished tracks were included on a re-release of Just Loving You entitled Movin' On in 1999.
The final song he recorded was I Can't Go On This Way.
, Denver left two sons, and had another son, named Karl, who predeceased him.
$ Happy Mondays
and Karl Denver
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
singer, who, with his trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
had a series of UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
s in the early 1960s. Most famous of these was a 1961 version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Wimoweh", which showed off Denver's falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
yodelling register. He reached the Top 20 with his first five yodel-based singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
.
Career
Denver was born Angus Murdo McKenzie in SpringburnSpringburn
Springburn is an inner city district in the north of the Scottish city of Glasgow, home to various working and middle-class households.Springburn developed from a small rural hamlet at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Its industrial expansion began with the establishment of a chemical...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and was well travelled by the time he took up singing, having had a previous career in the British Merchant Navy. He also had a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
influence, having lived in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
for a short time before being deported from there as an illegal immigrant in 1959. In the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he adopted the new name that he retained for the remainder of his singing career.
In the early 1960s he formed a trio which included Kevin Neil (born 25 July 1931, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
; died 13 March 2010, Blackley, Manchester) and Gerry Cottrell (born Gerard Cottrell, 18 December 1933, Manchester, Lancashire; died 24 November 2006, at Trafford General Hospital, Urmston
Urmston
Urmston is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England, with a population of around 41,000. Historically a part of Lancashire, it lies about six miles to the southwest of Manchester city centre. The southern boundary is marked by the River Mersey and the...
, Manchester).
Denver's song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, "Never Goodbye", was an entry in A Song for Europe in 1962
United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1962
The United Kingdom held a national preselection to choose the song that would go to the Eurovision Song Contest 1962. It was held on February 11, 1962 and presented by David Jacobs.-Results: Artist Song Place Points Johnny Angel...
.
After the mid 1960s, Denver worked mainly on the cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
circuit. However in 1989 he enjoyed a brief raise in profile after guesting on Madchester
Madchester
Madchester was a music scene that developed in Manchester, England, towards the end of the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The music that emerged from the scene mixed alternative rock, psychedelic rock and dance music...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, the Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
' single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Lazyitis (One-Armed Boxer)", on Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
(FAC 222). Denver also appeared in The Happy Mondays' video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, although he contracted pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
whilst filming the video. Following this collaboration Factory released two further Denver recordings
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
, "Wimoweh '89" (FAC 228) and "Indambinigi" (FAC 278; credited to Karl Denver and Steve Lima).
In 1993 he released his final album, Just Loving You, aimed at the country music market. In mid 1998, Denver began recording a new album, but died before full recording of the album was completed. The finished tracks were included on a re-release of Just Loving You entitled Movin' On in 1999.
The final song he recorded was I Can't Go On This Way.
Family life
Three times marriedMarriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
, Denver left two sons, and had another son, named Karl, who predeceased him.
Singles
- "Marcheta" - 1961 - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#8 - "Mexicali RoseMexicali Rose"Mexicali Rose" is a popular song with music by Jack Tenney and lyrics by Helen Stone, published in 1923. The song is a love story of a man who must leave his love for a while. The chorus:...
" - 1961 - UK #8 - "WimowehThe Lion Sleeps Tonight"The Lion Sleeps Tonight", also known as "Wimoweh" and originally as "Mbube", is a song recorded by Solomon Linda and his group The Evening Birds for the South African Gallo Record Company in 1939. It was covered internationally by many 1950s pop and folk revival artists, including The Weavers,...
" - 1962 - UK #4 - "Never Goodbye" - 1962 - UK #9
- "A Little Love a Little Kiss" - 1962 - UK #19
- "Blue Week-end" - 1962 - UK #33
- "Can You Forgive Me" - 1963 - UK #32
- "Indian Love Call" - 1963 - UK #32
- "Still" - 1963 - UK #13
- "My World of Blue" - 1964 - UK #29
- "Love Me with All Your HeartLove Me with All Your Heart"Love Me with All Your Heart" is a popular song, based on the Spanish language song "Cuando calienta el sol". The music was written by Rafael Gaston Perez, a Nicaraguan songwriter and bandleader, and made famous first by the Rigual Brothers. The English lyrics are sometimes credited to Michael...
" - 1964 - UK #37 - "Lazyitis - One Armed Boxer" - 1990 - UK #46 $
$ Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
and Karl Denver
Albums
- Wimoweh - 1961 - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#7 - Karl Denver at The Yew Tree - 1964
See also
- List of artists under the Decca Records label
- List of Factory Records recording artists
- List of NME covers